An tug-of-war is brewing as West Ham insisted on Thursday they would not allow Marko Arnautovic to leave this January after the forward’s brother and agent declared the 29-year-old “greatly desired” a switch to China.
The London club took to Twitter to offer a pointed response to Danijel Arnautovic’s claims that West Ham “bought the player for peanuts” and that they should allow the player to leave the club as he wishes.
“Marko Arnautovic has a contract and we fully expect him to honour it. He is not for sale,” wrote the club.
Arnautovic’s agent told UK radio station Talksport that West Ham had been offered nearly double what they paid for him.
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“They bought him to keep them in the Premier League last season and he did that. He took every award at the club; best player, signing of the season and the players’ award.
“Now West Ham have a fantastic offer ... He wants to go to a new market and challenge for titles ... It is his great desire that West Ham accept the offer from China.”
Marko Arnautovic is under contract at West Ham until 2022. Photo: Reuters
